Jared Goff didn’t get to pick Sean McVay as his head coach in 2017, but he’s thrilled that the Los Angeles Rams front office did. Goff and McVay have developed a strong relationship in their three years together, even reaching the Super Bowl in their second season as a pairing.
McVay has been praised repeatedly by players who have suited up for him, specifically for his relatability, his willingness to listen to players and, of course, his incredible knowledge as a coach.
Goff and several other players were asked by Jim Trotter of NFL.com about the three most important traits of a head coach. Goff represented the quarterbacks in this exercise, and his three picks fit perfectly with McVay’s style.
1. Listening
2. Communication
3. Connectivity
Goff elaborated on the communication aspect, saying it not only applies to coaches talking to players, but also a coach’s ability to work with the front office. McVay has built a strong relationship with GM Les Snead and COO Kevin Demoff, which has helped make this rebuild so successful.
2) Communication: How well you’re able to communicate to everyone, not only your players and coaches, but everyone within the building and the front office. But especially players — how you’re able to communicate with players that are smart and are extremely intelligent and can handle a lot, and then at the same time the players that need to be helped out a little bit more, and not be frustrated but to communicate in a way that helps them. That’s part of why I think [Rams coach Sean McVay] does so well.
Listening is straight-forward, pertaining to a coach’s willingness to be “open-minded to others’ ideas and others’ thoughts,” as Goff put it. That was on full display this offseason when McVay canceled a traditional team meeting in favor of an open forum setting that allowed players to discuss the tragic killing of George Floyd.
As for connectivity, Goff described it as “genuinely connecting with your players and genuinely connecting with your staff.” It’s safe to say McVay has done that, based on the comments from players who have suited up for him, and his former assistants who went on to earn head-coaching gigs have also spoken highly of him.
Goff and McVay will be working together for a long time now that both are under contract through at least the 2023 season.
